An eight-month-old infant with rare but severe epilepsy was cured after receiving an experimental gene replacement in a historic medical moment. The child was one of the first in the world to be treated with gene replacement therapy to restore the function of a crucial gene that regulates nervous system development. It was delivered via … Read more
Something odd was happening to Arielle Hoffman. It was December 2016, and the aspiring actress was mid-shift at a Manhattan brunch spot when she was struck by a strange sensation. Moments later, she realized she’d wet herself — and a slice of time had disappeared. “It was almost as if somebody skipped ahead 30 seconds … Read more
How nerve-racking! The anti-seizure drug gabapentin is used to treat epilepsy, nerve pain after shingles and restless legs syndrome by affecting chemical messengers in the brain and nerves. Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, headaches and nausea. Now, a new study out of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland warns that gabapentin can significantly increase … Read more
Children born with a common viral infection are nearly 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a new study finds. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is part of the herpes family of viruses. It spreads through body fluids like blood, saliva and urine, and it’s usually harmless in healthy people. Around a third … Read more
A Scottish teenager with epilepsy underwent a groundbreaking surgery to remove a piece of his brain and is no longer having seizures for the first time in 13 years, according to his mother. Angus Bain, 17, endured seizure attacks at least once a week for most of his life, but doctors are optimistic he’ll be … Read more
At one point in her life, Amber Pearson spent eight hours a day acting out her obsessive thoughts. She washed her hands until they bled, repeatedly checked the locks on her doors and ate separately from her family due to an intense fear of food contamination. Pearson, 34, has OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, that neither therapy … Read more
Influencer Annabelle Ham died last week after an “epileptic event,” her family said Tuesday. “This is Annabelle’s family. We’re writing this with heavy, heavy hearts,” reads a caption of a family photo posted to the 22-year-old content creator’s Instagram account. “Annabelle experienced an epileptic event and has gone on to the gates of heaven. She … Read more
A British woman’s unusual medical condition has destroyed her life and makes everyone think she’s intoxicated — and doctors believe her malady was brought on by bullying in school. Emilyjane Vernau, 27, from Essex, was diagnosed with epilepsy nearly seven years ago and says her diagnosis has ruined her professional and personal life. “Everything was taken … Read more
Scientists are reporting a breakthrough discovery: A $3-a-pill epilepsy drug may be used to “switch off” autism symptoms in mice, according to a new peer-reviewed study published Tuesday in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that impacts how an estimated 5.4 million (2.2%) adults — and 1 in … Read more
Teen Alison Appleby of Sherman, Texas, was crowned Miss Dallas Teen USA 2022 recently with her loyal service dog, Brady, right by her side. The 17-year-old teenager, who lives with autism and epilepsy, accomplished what she once considered the impossible by competing in a pageant as a disabled person — and winning. Appleby told Fox News Digital in … Read more